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PETA Condemns Pokemon For Promoting Animal Abuse 418

Posted by Unknown Lamer from the gotta-kill-em-all dept.
SchrodingerZ writes "PETA, the same group that last November protested Mario for 'wearing fur,' has condemned the Pokémon media franchise and video game series. In light of the recent release of Pokemon Black and White Versions 2, the activist group is protesting that the Pokemon game series 'paints a rosy picture of what amounts to thinly veiled animal abuse.' As many of us know Pokemon is about young children who capture wild animals for the sole purpose of having them battle in non-fatal sparing matches. 'Much like animals in the real world, Pokémon are treated as unfeeling objects and used for such things as human entertainment and as subjects in experiments. The way that Pokémon are stuffed into pokéballs is similar to how circuses chain elephants inside railroad cars and let them out only to perform confusing and often painful tricks that were taught using sharp steel-tipped bullhooks and electric shock prods,' says a statement from the group. Ironically within Pokemon B/W 2 there an organization known as Team Plasma , which deals with taking Pokemon and retuning them to the wild. PETA is so up in arms that they have even created an anti-pokemon parody game in which you play as an escaped Pokemon battling your trainer. I recommend trying it, just for the laughs."
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PETA Condemns Pokemon For Promoting Animal Abuse More

PETA Condemns Pokemon For Promoting Animal Abuse

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  • Funny (Score:5, Informative)

    by ichthus ( 72442 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @07:16PM (#41591961) Homepage
    One of the funniest headlines I've read all year. Don't need TFA.

    • Re:Funny (Score:5, Insightful)

      by sarysa ( 1089739 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @07:49PM (#41592275)
      What's really funny is they waited 15 years to pull this stunt. Pokemon peaked maybe 12 years ago. I think they time their protests specifically to get maximum media coverage hours overall. (can't offload all their examples at once, after all)

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Jeng ( 926980 )

        I think this is an excuse to make a silly game and get lots of free publicity from tons of geeks doing what many of them have probably want to have done for years.

        • Re:Funny (Score:4, Funny)

          by 2.7182 ( 819680 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @08:18PM (#41592491)
          It's really high time that they went after Mr. Ed, before the reruns stop airing at least.

          • Re:Funny (Score:4, Interesting)

            by Vintermann ( 400722 ) on Tuesday October 09, 2012 @01:48AM (#41593883) Homepage

            No one tell them about CLOP [foddy.net].

      • Re:Funny (Score:4, Funny)

        by travbrad ( 622986 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @08:21PM (#41592517)
        They were complaining about Mario wearing a raccoon suit a few months ago. At least they have moved on to whining about things that happened in the 90s now.
      • Maybe the hacking and mass slaughter of innocent players in World of Warcraft major cities was actually a PETA terrorist plot in revenge for battle pets' inclusion in the recent Pandaria expansion.

      • Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)

        by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Tuesday October 09, 2012 @12:29AM (#41593625)
        Comment removed based on user account deletion

      • What's really funny is they waited 15 years to pull this stunt.

        Maybe it's an anniversary gift for Slashdot.

    • No, not funny, boring. (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Frosty Piss ( 770223 ) * on Monday October 08, 2012 @08:33PM (#41592565)

      Honestly, people, why is this story even here? PETA shits out a turd like this once a week. And Slashdot has given them exactly what they wanted.

      • Re:No, not funny, boring. (Score:5, Insightful)

        by SomePgmr ( 2021234 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @11:52PM (#41593525) Homepage

        And Slashdot has given them exactly what they wanted.

        A collective, "wtf is wrong with you people"? That doesn't seem like a well considered strategy.

  • Obligatory Firefly quote (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 08, 2012 @07:17PM (#41591969)

    Well, my days of not taking PETA seriously are certainly coming to a middle.

    • Here, start at the beginning [peta.org]. Then go bleach your brain to get rid of the images.

      • Sea Kittens?

        Whu?

        Baby catfish?

      • Re:Obligatory Firefly quote (Score:5, Funny)

        by Dahamma ( 304068 ) on Tuesday October 09, 2012 @01:05AM (#41593745)

        That whole campaign is only one letter away from brilliance...

        Sex kittens talk to each other through squeaks, squeals, and other low-frequency sounds

        Like their surface-dwelling cousins, the land kittens, sex kittens enjoy being petted.

        Some sex kittens tend well-kept gardens.

        they often gently rub against each other as a sign of affection.

        While this is not particularly easy to do underwater coherently, female sex kittens don't generally seem to mind.

      • I find it gratifying that in the whole world with internet access, only 7,400 people are nuts enough to have signed the petition on that one.

  • Fucking Retarded (Score:4, Informative)

    by Seumas ( 6865 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @07:19PM (#41591989)

    Look, we all eschew mistreatment of animals, but aside from the deceit and near criminality of PETA as an organization . . . they're just downright fucking retarded:

    The way that Pokémon are stuffed into pokéballs is similar to how circuses chain elephants inside railroad cars and let them out only to perform confusing and often painful tricks that were taught using sharp steel-tipped bullhooks and electric shock prods,'

    No. No, they are NOTHING ALIKE. For one thing, elephants are real and pokemon don't actually fucking exist.

    • The way that Pokémon are stuffed into pokéballs is similar to how circuses chain elephants inside railroad cars and let them out only to perform confusing and often painful tricks that were taught using sharp steel-tipped bullhooks and electric shock prods,' No. No, they are NOTHING ALIKE. For one thing, elephants are real and pokemon don't actually fucking exist.

      Firstly, I've not watched Pokemon for well over a decade, so I've no idea how Pokeball technology has advanced in that time, but I've always likened them to genie lamps. If you watch Disney's Aladdin, the inside of the lamp is very well set, with lounge furniture and ornamental adornments throughout. The genie is shrunken down, without any observable discomfort or harm, to fit well in this diminutive abode.

      I also liken Pokeballs and Pokemon to genie's lamps and genies respectively because, as you have righ

  • 1999 called and wants its headline back (Score:5, Insightful)

    by readandburn ( 825014 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @07:23PM (#41592021)
    PETA is probably also listening to Smash Mouth and fearing Y2K.

  • Trolls (Score:4, Insightful)

    by zicAU ( 867771 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @07:26PM (#41592059)
    Don't feed the trolls.

  • "Wearing fur"? Seriously? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by flydpnkrtn ( 114575 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @07:30PM (#41592093)
    How is Mario ever "wearing fur"? Are they referring to Racoon Mario? When he touches the Leaf, he becomes a fucking racoon. He's not "wearing a racoon suit, cosplay style," he physically transforms into a fucking racoon

    I mean damn PETA come on, this is why people start thinking you're just a bunch of nutjobs....

  • I support PETA... (Score:4, Funny)

    by Zapotek ( 1032314 ) <tasos.laskos@gmai[ ]om ['l.c' in gap]> on Monday October 08, 2012 @07:32PM (#41592103)
    ...as of 3mins ago and will keep supporting them in hopes of seeing more headlines like these, pure comedy. Thank you PETA.

  • I dont know why PETA want cows extinct? (Score:3)

    by BatGnat ( 1568391 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @07:33PM (#41592115)
    If PETA had their way, we would not eat meat, nor use leather. No farmer would keep cows around just for the hell of it. Lots of dead cows.....

    • you mean the cuddly cud-chewing prarie puppies?

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Longjmp ( 632577 )
      We've got to stop the killing now.
      Probably 99% of animals are eaten alive. We need to kill all whales to prevent them from eating billions of plankton!
      (and guppies from eating worms: kill all guppies!)

      Next shocking truth: 100% of animals are dying alive!

      Holy shit.

  • How ironic (Score:5, Informative)

    by Sydin ( 2598829 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @07:36PM (#41592155)
    If anybody at PETA had actually bothered to play Pokemon Black and White for more than five minutes, they'd have met a group of villains named Team Plasma. This group was a parody of real world "revolutionary" groups like the Black Panthers or PETA, who attempt to present themselves as fighting for a worthy cause, when in reality they're just after personal gain and a feelings of self-satisfaction. Team Plasma tries to convince you the player that your treatment of pokemon is cruel, and that Pokemon hate people as a result. Yet the real message of the story is learning that catching a pokemon isn't just about stuffing it into a ball and forcing it to fight: It's about building a bond of trust and mutual friendship between the pokemon and trainer, which if properly fostered allows them to accomplish anything together. If anything, PETA should be commending Pokemon for it's progressive attitude. But I guess that doesn't make for as eye-catching a headline.

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by Fned ( 43219 )

      If anybody at PETA had actually bothered to play Pokemon Black and White for more than five minutes, they'd have met a group of villains named Team Plasma.

      If you'd looked at the game link for, like, literally one second, you'd have seen the Pikachu-holding-a-sign-saying-"I support Team Plasma" graphic.

    • Yet the real message of the story is learning that catching a pokemon isn't just about stuffing it into a ball and forcing it to fight: It's about building a bond of trust and mutual friendship between the pokemon and trainer, which if properly fostered allows them to accomplish anything together

      Which is just another form of animal abuse to PETA.
      They believe no one should have a pet, and that domesticating animals is just another form of abuse.
      Hell, some PETA members even think that damaging insect habitats during construction is akin to genocide.

      PETA is nothing but a gaggle of whack-jobs.
      But, they put naked chicks on parade, so I give them a pass.

  • Wow. In a completely unrelated note, I just read yesterday in, I think, a wiki on pokemon, that the original backstory points out that in the pokemon world there are no conventional farm animals. Zero. So what do the human inhabitants eat? Apparently, they eat Pokemon. Hopefully, the more appetizing-looking ones. Let's see what PETA does with that.

    But more on-topic, I think I shall create an anti-anti-pokemon game, where you beat up children, take their pokemon, release same into the wild, and see how

    • They do eat some dairy products from the more bovine Pokemon, and think I've seen some of the fish Pokemon for sale in markets (don't quote me). But Pokemon food is exclusively made from herbs, nuts, berries, grains, etc. and even the Pokemon with big slavering canines happily gobble up the vegan Pokemon food.

  • Models supporting PETA? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Vinegar Joe ( 998110 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @07:47PM (#41592251)

    Will they be nude?

  • Attention whoring (Score:3)

    by ChromeAeonium ( 1026952 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @07:51PM (#41592289)

    This reminds me of when groups like Greenpeace complains about something popular just to get attention. It's just some activist noise making about something topical to bring attention to themselves. What I find funny is that by pulling these stupid stunts, all they are doing is making themselves (and their cause) look bad. Maybe the next time someone hears about an actual legitimate issue in animal welfare they'll think of this and pay it no mind ('Hey, isn't that the same stuff those wackos who complained about Pokemon were going on about?') . The way they trade credibility for publicity (not that they had much credibility to start with) makes me think PETA cares more about their own 15 seconds of fame than actually bringing any benefit to animals.

    And by the way, Pokemon are clearly partners, not slaves. The games make generally that pretty clear and go on ad nauseam about poke-friendship or something like that, in fact, something about humans being mean to their Pokemon was even a central part of the plot of the last games, not that any of this is relevant if causing a fuss is your only actual goal.

  • PETA.
    Ok, now to point out, what everyone that has watched even 1 episode of Pokemon or actually played any of the Pokemon games for more than 10 minutes, it's about caring for your pokemon and building a relationship with them.
    As to stuffing them into balls, considering something the size of an elephant or more can fit into one of those little balls and still not weigh more than a few ounces, they aren't being "stuffed" in. It's apparently some kind of pocket dimension.
    On top of that, IT'S A CARTOON AND VID

  • Hypocrits. Fuck PETA (Score:5, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 08, 2012 @07:53PM (#41592303)

    PETA's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad History of Killing Animals [theatlantic.com]

    In 2011, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) behaved in a regrettably consistent manner: it euthanized the overwhelming majority (PDF) of dogs and cats that it accepted into its shelters. Out of 760 dogs impounded, they killed 713, arranged for 19 to be adopted, and farmed out 36 to other shelters (not necessarily "no kill" ones). As for cats, they impounded 1,211, euthanized 1,198, transferred eight, and found homes for a grand total of five. PETA also took in 58 other companion animals -- including rabbits. It killed 54 of them.

    NB that in Virginia, stats only need to be kept for animals taken in with the intent of putting them up for adoption.

    Think that's a fluke?

    Get this:

    PETA's "Thank You" for Killing Shelter Pets [slashdot.org]

    When the No Kill shelter in Shelby County, Kentucky, recently announced that they had run out of space -- and were hence going to have to start killing healthy dogs and cats -- officials received a nice basket of gourmet cookies, with a note signed by PETA: "Thank you for doing the right thing for animals."

    Surely I'm joking here. This must be a weak stab at satire. Many people have written about Ingrid Newkirk's vicious pet-killing program -- her organization has personally liquidated over 27,000 animals -- but PETA has always responded with hurt and outrage (and lawyers). People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals don't celebrate killing, goes the lie -- they see it as a regrettable necessity.

    Surely Newkirk wouldn't be so foolish as to express her ghoulish agenda in this way, as a naked statement accompanied by a gift. No group of self-styled vegans would publicly wed their name to the Pro-Kill Equation: butchery = the right thing.

    Well, Nathan Winograd (who developed the somewhat different No Kill Equation) reported on this in detail, and I suggest you examine his photographic evidence. A lovely basket of "Allison's Gourmet Cookies" -- shipped fresh from California -- with a handwritten note signed: "The PETA Staff." If you'd like further evidence, and to read the reverse side of this charming note, Shelby County No Kill Mission has produced an affecting video about the episode.

    To understand just how grotesque this is, you have to know a little bit about Shelby. This is not simply one of America's fifty-one No Kill communities. It has a special significance: Last year's save rate sent Shelby County to the top -- it is now one of the most successful examples of No Kill in the nation.

    The last animal killed for lack of space in Shelby County was on May 27, 2008. Since then, they've enjoyed a save rate that is almost precisely the inverse of PETA's kill rate. Whereas PETA slaughters 97% of the pets delivered to their hellish "Shelter of Last Resort," in 2011 Shelby saved 98.52% of the cats and 94.46% of the dogs in their care.

    Shelby County runs an open admission shelter: They do not turn animals away. They have an impeccable history -- despite PETA's dire predictions, their No Kill community has never been associated with hoarding or animal abuse of any kind. (In fact, none of the legitimate No Kill organizations has been guilty of these crimes, but that's another story.) The Shelby program has a tiny budget: $147,000. Compare that to PETA's annual plunder: over $32.3 million from unsuspecting donors.

  • Pokemon Black and White (Score:4, Informative)

    by Georules ( 655379 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @08:00PM (#41592347)
    These people clearly did not play Pokemon Black and White. http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/3/7/ [penny-arcade.com]

  • Critical problem (Score:5, Funny)

    by PPH ( 736903 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @08:01PM (#41592351)

    PETA needs to turn its attention toward the care and feeding of abandoned Tamagotchi [wikipedia.org]. These were purchased for children who, after having grown up, have abandoned their pets to the bottoms of toy chests or the back of sock drawers. PETA needs to fund a reserve for forgotten Tamagotchi.

    Right after they get their Save the Skeets [cartalk.com] campaign off the ground.

  • Peta sure is one sided, what about the cells in Vegetables, they have the same rights as humans, what about single celled yeast or atoms!!!!! Those monsters ( Peta ) don't care about them.

  • Comment removed (Score:3)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @08:11PM (#41592421)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • I only disagree on one point: condemning Pokemon isn't that crazy. If Pokemon were real, fighting them for sport would be illegal, at least in developed countries. It is really unlikely that any little kids decided to become cock fighters based on the fun times they had playing gameboy.

  • PETA is passe (Score:3)

    by avm ( 660 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @08:15PM (#41592459) Journal

    This is an organisation whose time came and went, but doesn't realise it and is futilely thrashing at anything that'll generate a headline containing their name. People are more aware of the issues they once touted, but are filtering out their sensationalist over the top antics that often obscure their message.

    Has beens, right up there with the *AA.

  • Abusing humans (Score:3)

    by Murdoch5 ( 1563847 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @08:15PM (#41592461) Homepage
    So Peta hates animal abuse but apparently love abuse on humans. That games shows a drunk human getting his ass kicked and abused by an animal, that is more retarded then the original complaint. I guess we should be worried about the harm to fictional animals not real ones.

  • PETA Kills (Score:5, Informative)

    by djl4570 ( 801529 ) on Monday October 08, 2012 @08:33PM (#41592569) Journal
    PETA 'killed more than 95 per cent of adoptable dogs and cats in its care last year' shocking new report says [dailymail.co.uk]

    People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals killed more than 95 per cent of animals in its care last year at a Virginia shelter, a shocking new report states. ...
    Records from 2011 alone state that of the 1,992 cats and dogs received, 34 were transferred, and 24 were adopted. The remaining 1,911 were put down, the report states.

    Read the rest at the link. If you want to know more get Penn and Teller's Bullshit! on DVD and watch the PETA episode.

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by D. Book ( 534411 )

      You're quoting an article based on a report from one strident advocacy group (Center for Consumer Freedom), published in one of the Britain's least trustworthy media outlets (The Daily Mail), criticising another stident advocacy group (PETA).

      It's sad that such a cesspit of sources rates as "informative".

    • Every bloody time there's a PETA article someone posts this, the implication being that becuase PETA kills some animals they take in, they're either inconsistent or they're evil.

      It's such a crock. PETA have responded to these accusations any number of times, the gist of their response being that the animals are so severely injured or traumatised that it's better they be put down. I don't see a problem with this response. I know PETA's a favourite whipping boy for Slashdot folk (along with Greenpeace and v

  • subject (Score:3)

    by Legion303 ( 97901 ) on Tuesday October 09, 2012 @07:05AM (#41594881) Homepage

    I've never played Pokemon, but PETA just gave me an awesome idea. Capture REAL animals, cram them into metal balls, and force them to fight. Thanks, PETA!

  • Please Execute These Assholes (Score:3)

    by msobkow ( 48369 ) on Tuesday October 09, 2012 @12:05PM (#41598027) Homepage Journal

    PETA seems to protest everything except actual animal abuse. Their record for their owned animal shelters in the US isn't any better than other groups. In fact, they apparently terminate more animals than the "average" shelter does, rather than see the animals "abused" by new owners.

    What I can't understand is why they get any press. Or is the press just because they seem to have more nubile young women in their protests than most organizations, making for good eye candy backgrounds while their representatives speak during interviews?

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